Focus
EPA proposes designating certain PFAS 'forever chemicals' as hazardous substances
CNN – August 26
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it proposes to designate certain per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds, PFOA and PFOS, as hazardous substances under Superfund regulations. Since the 1940s, manufacturers have used PFAS compounds to make coatings and products that can repel water, grease, heat, and oil. The chemicals break down slowly over time, may leach into the environment, and have been linked to certain health problems. If the proposal is finalized, releases of these chemicals over certain thresholds would have to be reported to the government. EPA said the rule could also make those responsible for the release of these PFAS to pay fines and environmental cleanup costs. EPA will publish the proposed rule in the next several weeks, after which the public will have 60 days to comment before the rule can be finalized.
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News
Permittees under the construction general permit and industrial general permit must take steps now to ensure compliance
Allen Matkins – August 23
Over the past two years, the California State Water Resources Control Board and its Regional Water Quality Control Boards have significantly increased enforcement activity relating to alleged violations of the statewide general permits for stormwater discharges associated with construction and industrial activities. These recent civil penalties are generally much larger than those assessed by the Water Boards in the past. Moreover, Regional Board inspectors have started taking much more aggressive positions with respect to compliance inspections and enforcement. As the start of the 2022-2023 wet season approaches, and especially in light of the emerging enforcement environment, permittees under these two general permits would benefit from taking steps now to help ensure compliance.
Regulators approve California’s plan to phase out gas-powered vehicles
The Mercury News – August 25
California plans to require all new cars, trucks, and SUVs to run on electricity or hydrogen by 2035 under a policy approved Thursday by the California Air Resources Board. The policy provides that, after 2035, no new exclusively gas-powered vehicles could be sold in the state, but existing and used gas-powered vehicles, and a limited number of new plug-in hybrid vehicles, could still be driven and sold in California. The move is expected to prompt other states to follow California’s lead and to accelerate the production of zero-emission vehicles by automakers. Washington state and Massachusetts already have said they will follow California’s lead and many more are likely to — New York and Pennsylvania are among 17 states that have adopted some or all of California’s tailpipe emission standards that are stricter than federal rules.
EPA again proposes risk management rule
Chemical & Engineering News – August 19
The U.S. EPA is again proposing revisions to its 30-year-old risk management program (RMP) for chemical facilities. The proposed regulations would require RMP-covered facilities to develop procedures for informing local responders and the public about accidental chemical releases and allowing employee and community participation in oversight decisions, such as incident investigations and compliance audits. RMP-covered facilities would also be required to consider inherently safer processes and designs and conduct root cause analyses following RMP-reportable incidents, among other provisions.
Ranchers told to stop diverting water in drought-hit Shasta River Watershed
Associated Press – August 24
The State Water Resources Control Board issued a draft cease-and-desist order last Friday to the Shasta Water Association, a group of farmers and ranchers near the Oregon state line, warning it to stop taking water from the Shasta River watershed. The association has 20 days to request a hearing or the order becomes final and could subject the organization to fines of up to $10,000 a day, according to the state water agency. Since last year, the state agency has curtailed water use in the watershed in order to keep water flowing in the Shasta River, a main tributary of the Klamath River and a nursery for a fragile and federally-protected salmon species.
New federal funds will help Southern California weather megadrought
The Press-Enterprise – August 18
Nearly $310 million in federal funds from the infrastructure bill approved last November will help pay for projects that promise to capture, store, and recycle more water in the drought-ridden West, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced last Thursday. The vast majority of those funds will help pay for projects in California, including $12 million to expand an Irvine reservoir that serves central Orange County, $10 million to increase recycled water supplies in eastern Riverside County, and $15 million to boost a groundwater recycling program in Los Angeles County. Those funds soon will be supplemented by an additional $4 billion dedicated to other long-term water programs in the Inflation Reduction Bill that President Joe Biden signed into law last Tuesday.
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